Sod is pre-grown grass harvested in sections, complete with a thin layer of soil and roots, and sold stacked on pallets for immediate installation. This turf provides an instant lawn, bypassing the long germination period required for planting grass seed. Knowing the precise area a pallet covers is necessary for accurate ordering and budgeting. Pallet coverage is determined by industry standards but can vary based on the specific product and supplier. Understanding these factors and accurately measuring the installation area prevents costly mistakes and ensures seamless coverage.
Standard Coverage Area of a Pallet
The typical coverage of a standard sod pallet in the industry ranges between 400 and 500 square feet. While 400 and 500 square feet are common measurements, 450 square feet is often cited as the average standard coverage. The actual square footage is determined by the size and quantity of the individual pieces of sod stacked onto the pallet.
Sod is generally cut into rectangular slabs or rolls that are designed for easy handling and laying. A common piece size is 16 inches by 24 inches, covering approximately 2.66 square feet per piece. Using this dimension, a pallet covering 450 square feet would contain roughly 165 pieces. Confirm the exact square footage per pallet directly with the supplier, as there is no universal dimension, and some pallets may cover up to 700 square feet.
Variations in Sod Pallet Size and Thickness
The quoted coverage of a pallet is not always a fixed number due to factors related to harvesting and grass variety. Sod thickness is a variable; a thicker cut with more soil attached weighs more and takes up more volume. Consequently, a pallet stacked with a thicker cut will contain fewer total square feet to manage the maximum safe weight for transport, which can reach up to 3,000 pounds.
The type of grass also influences the final pallet size, as different species grow with varying root densities and soil requirements. Suppliers may use different harvesting equipment, resulting in varied dimensions for the individual sod pieces. Regional standards also play a role; some areas adhere to a 400 square foot pallet while others use a 500 square foot pallet. Direct confirmation with the vendor is the most reliable step.
How to Measure Your Yard for Sod
Accurately measuring the total square footage of the installation area is necessary before ordering. For perfectly square or rectangular spaces, the process is straightforward: measure the length and width, and multiply these values to determine the square footage. For larger areas, break the space into smaller, manageable rectangular sections and calculate the area of each section separately.
Measuring irregularly shaped spaces requires a different approach to ensure accuracy. The most effective method is to simplify the complex shape by dividing it into a series of basic geometric forms, such as squares, rectangles, and triangles. For each shape, measure the required dimensions, calculate the area using the appropriate geometric formula, and then add all the areas together. For example, the area of a triangle is calculated as half the base multiplied by the height.
For circular or semi-circular areas, measure the distance from the center point to the edge (the radius), and then use the formula Pi times r-squared to find the area. Taking multiple measurements within an irregular area and averaging them can also provide a reasonable estimate. Precisely measuring the entire space and subtracting non-grass areas, like walkways or garden beds, prevents ordering too much or too little material.
Calculating Your Order and Accounting for Waste
Once the total square footage has been accurately measured, the final step is to calculate the number of pallets needed and adjust the total for waste. To determine the base order, divide the total measured square footage by the specific square footage of one pallet provided by the supplier. This calculation yields a raw number of pallets, which should always be rounded up to the next whole number.
It is highly recommended to add a buffer to the total measured area to account for waste that occurs during installation. Sod must be cut and shaped to fit around curves, walkways, and other obstacles, resulting in small unusable pieces. A general rule is to add an extra 5% to 10% to the total square footage before dividing by the pallet coverage. A yard with many curves and complex shapes should use the 10% waste factor, while a mostly rectangular yard may only need 5% extra. Ordering a small surplus is preferable to running short and needing a costly, last-minute second delivery.